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Contact our general manager with any questions. Profile updated: November 21, 2023.

University of Florida’s Hough Graduate School of Business

MBA Program Stats

Annual Tuition: $26,437

Annual Tuition Non-Resident: $61,620

Acceptance Rate: 36.1%

Full-Time Enrollment: 58

Average GPA: 3.49

Median GMAT: 690

Median GRE: 311

International: 19.1%

Minority: 17.6%

Female: 35%

Male: 65%

Average Age: 28

What You Need To Know

For the fourth consecutive year, the UF MBA was named among the top 10 U.S. public full-time programs by US News and World Report. The program was first introduced for working professionals in 1993.

Gainesville, Florida is a smaller town, with just over 140,000 people, yet it has many of the features of a large city. Students can participate in year-round outdoor activities and sports leagues, and within a couple of hours’ drive, you can visit world-famous theme parks, the ocean, and clear water natural springs.

The 22-month MBA is designed for individuals with diverse academic and professional backgrounds looking for deeper immersion, and is fairly exclusive, with an overall acceptance rate of just 23.9%.

For those who want a more rigorous format, Hough also offers the full-time MBA in a one-year format or a ten-month format. Students come to the program with around four years of working experience. The one-year accelerated path features 10 of the 16 required core courses for the two-year MBA. Like the two-year path, students can complete optional global immersion experiences during the fall and spring. In total, students need 48 credits.

In the second year, Hough MBAs can further expand their studies in one of 6 concentrations – business analytics, human capital, marketing, real estate, strategy, and supply chain management. Optional global immersion experiences take place during fall break the second year as well as over spring break.

“I chose UF for a couple of reasons and the most important ones to me are one: the success of the Business Career Services in job placements. Two: the student and alumni engagement and support. I was connected to alumni even before joining the program and he was gracious enough to set time aside to meet with me and share his experiences. I felt I’d get the support I need in the UF MBA program. Three: small cohort size that allows me to interact closely with each of my classmates. Networking is a major component of the UF MBA program, and a small cohort size allows me to cultivate meaningful professional relationships with my colleagues,” says MBA Daniel Mbeyah on UF’s site.

Academics And Programs

What You Need to Know

The University of Florida’s MBA program has been educating leaders since 1948 with their first inaugural cohort – with just three students. Needless to say, the program has since grown – this year, with 34 students joining, bringing the full-time student count to 58 MBAs. They are a part of more than 700 other Executive, Online and Weekend Professional MBAs.

The B-school has a rich history which includes William R. Hough, the first UF MBA graduate to walk across the commencement stage. Hough, a prosperous businessman, attributed his achievements to his UF MBA experience, and in recognition, he donated $30 million to construct Hough Hall – the learning space that serves as the central hub for all MBAs today. 

Gainesville is home to UF and a great place to live for both academic and leisure purposes. Nature enthusiasts can explore the numerous beaches, state parks and springs ideal for hiking and outdoor activities. The city is also just two hours from major urban centers like Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa, where students have access to a ton of opportunities to network locally beyond the campus. 

Academics & Programs

The UF MBA is a full-time, two-year program that can be completed in either a 10-month, 12-month or 22-month format. They craft intentionally small class sizes with much collaboration in mind to foster strong connections among both students and faculty. Balancing elective courses with foundational business courses, the curriculum draws upon the UF’s strengths in artificial intelligence. 

As for customization, there are more than 100 electives to choose from, seven concentrations including finance, human capital, marketing, strategy, supply chain, real estate, and business analytics, and four combination degree programs (JD/MBA, MD/MBA, PharmD/MBA, and specialized masters/MBA options).

Two-year MBAs are required to partake in at least one internship, while one-year MBA students aren’t expected to have an internship because the program is specifically designed to lead them directly into full-time roles upon graduation.

All MBAs have the option to attend Global Immersion Experiences – one-week study trips where MBAs collaborate with leadership from companies and learn how they operate in their region of the world and in a global market.

Outside of required curriculum, UF offers speaker series, networking events, corporate information sessions, networking socials, case competitions, as well as opportunities to engage in the University of Florida’s tailgate and sporting events.

“An MBA is an opportunity to enable critical thinking, reskill or upskill as careers evolve, and a confidence booster to better navigate an ever-changing world. It’s exciting to be in the opportunity business at the University of Florida MBA Program. By focusing on the importance of the degree and the value of a quality experience UF MBA continues to deliver outcomes that exceed the expectations of our students. There is nothing more exciting than witnessing the benefits our alumni receive from the investment they make in themselves while earning the degree at UF MBA!” says John Gresley, Assistant Dean and Director of UF MBA.

Why Students Chose

“I chose UF because of the incredible quality of Business Career Services. The personalized focus each student and I have received from Carly Escue and the BCS team has allowed each student to vocalize and strategically tailor their unique recruiting path. The career placement success of BCS speaks volumes to their passion and dedication to helping each student achieve their dreams.” Nathan Mechulan (‘23)

“Community, Community, Community! My main driver for choosing the University of Florida MBA program is the small class sizes. When researching UF’s MBA program, as a prospective student and even as an attending student, I was impressed with the small cohort sizes that enable a personalized experience with professors and Career Services. It also enabled me to build a strong, meaningful relationships with my peers and staff. The strong sense of community led to a strong sense of belonging.” Alexandrea Perkins (‘23)

“I knew I wanted to serve my organization in a human resources capacity, but after interviewing multiple times for role openings and not being selected, I realized that I needed to grow my knowledge to be more of an asset to any organization. This is what motivated me to apply to the UF MBA program, and nothing could have prepared me for the countless doors of opportunity this opened. The investment is less than most universities will require for such a prestigious program – in fact, it was so manageable that I didn’t need to apply for any student loans. Now, I’m debt-free and earning more than I could have imagined at this point in my life, all because I chose the UF MBA program.” Denise Williams (MBA ’23)

Career Stats

UF MBA Employment Stats

Compensation Stats of UF MBA Grads 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
Median Base Salary $128,000 $117,550 $110,000 $110,000 $105,000
Media Signing Bonus $30,000 $25,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000

UF MBA Graduate Employment Offers

Employment Offers 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
% of UF MBA Full-Time graduates with job offers by graduation 90% 92.5% 95.6% 82.8% 81.3%
% of UF MBA Full-Time graduates with job offers within 3 months post-graduation 100% 95% 100% 95.3% 89.6%
% of UF MBA Full-Time graduates employed three months post-graduation 97% 90% 97.8% 90.6% 89.6%

Industry Choices of UF MBAs

Industry Sector % Employed
Consulting 17%
Consumer Products 17%
Financial Services 17%
Manufacturing 13%
Technology 10%
Energy 10%
Other 23%

 

Admissions For Hough Graduate School of Business

From The University of Florida

Discover Your Path with the University of Florida MBA Full-Time Program

The University of Florida MBA Full-Time program is your ideal choice, designed for students making a career switch in a field they are passionate about or seeking to add a solid business foundation.

Why Choose UF MBA?

  • Generous Scholarships: At UF MBA, we’re committed to easing your transition. We offer 100% tuition scholarships and merit awards, ensuring that competitive students can make their dreams a reality.
  • Proven Excellence: Our Full-Time program has a remarkable legacy since its inception in 1993. Recognized as the No. 17 Full-Time program among public institutions by U.S. News & World Report, we proudly rank in the top 11% of programs. We also stand as the No. 7 public program according to Financial Times and No. 14 public program by Fortune.
  • Exceptional ROI: According to a ranking of Return on Investment (ROI) by the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business, UF MBA clinches the top spot with a salary-to-tuition ratio of 1.92, ensuring your investment pays off.
  • World-Class Faculty: Our distinguished faculty members are industry leaders, shaping the business landscape and helping companies prepare for the future through groundbreaking research. Their wealth of knowledge is delivered in the classroom to equip UF MBA students with the skills needed to lead in their future careers.
  • A Tight-Knit Community: Our program fosters a strong sense of community, with small cohort sizes ensuring close collaboration among like-minded peers. Your professional network grows daily, both inside and outside the classroom. And with over 500,000 Gators worldwide, you’ll always have a supportive network to lean on.
  • Exceptional Students: UF MBA Full-Time students arrive with an average of four years of work experience, boasting an average GMAT score of 686 and a GPA of 3.46.

Envision your future, excel in your career, and join the ranks of successful UF MBA graduates. 

Essay Questions For Hough Graduate School of Business

Short Answer Questions
1000 character limit, including spaces, punctuation, etc…, for each question

  1. In order of importance to you, list significant extracurricular activities, professional associations, and civic organizations in which you have participated in school, work, or the community. Also please indicate years of participation and any leadership positions you held.
  2. List below any other interests, hobbies, or recreational activities you currently pursue in your free time.
  3. Please describe any academic, professional, or civic honors or awards you received, patents you’ve been issued, books you’ve authored, or any other significant accomplishments you would like the admissions committee to consider.
  4. Explain the primary factors that influenced your decision to apply to the UF MBA Program.

Essay Questions
5500 character limit, including spaces, punctuation, etc…, for each question

  1. Describe how you would like to see your career develop. Explain how your academic background, prior professional experience, and the UF MBA will help you achieve your career goals. If your career goals are international or you are an international student, please include as part of your career plan in what country or region you plan to seek employment following completion of the program.
  2. Full-Time MBA Applicants Only – Describe a success you achieved due to self-motivation, persistence, and hard work. What motivated you?
  3. Optional – Please share any additional information you think will assist the admissions committee in evaluating your application to the UF MBA Program.

Rankings Data For Hough Graduate School of Business

Ranking 2023-2024 2022-2023 2021-2022 2020-2021 2019-2020
Poets&Quants 25 42 48 48 39

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